DADU’s

Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) are a great way to increase your home's value, generate income, and contribute to urban density. Unlike the more common term ADU, DADUs are standalone buildings on your property rather than a unit within your main structure. They can provide additional income as either short- or long-term rentals, or you could live in the DADU while renting out your main home.

Each city or county jurisdiction has specific zoning regulations regarding DADUs, such as maximum square footage, lot coverage, setbacks, and building height, to name a few. It’s essential to design within these limitations thoughtfully to maximize your DADU's potential. If your goal is to use it as a short-term rental, creating a unique and well-crafted space can make your DADU stand out, resulting in more frequent occupancy and higher income.

With these factors in mind, it's wise to hire an experienced architect to help you navigate zoning and building permits and design a space that fits your goals. At PLOT, we have successfully designed DADUs across the Seattle area and Northern Idaho.

When asked to design a DADU, we often start with a basic feasibility study. This exercise uncovers and illustrates some of the primary opportunities and constraints of the specific lot. From there, we work with our client to establish the project’s goals and budget, leading to several design iterations. Once a design approach is selected, we proceed to detail, specify, and prepare permit drawings, all of which lead into construction documents that can be bid on and handed over to a general contractor.

Example of zoning massing diagram for a  DADU (Detached Dwelling Unit) in Seattle by PLOT.

We offer custom DADU design solutions, along standard plans at a lower design fee cost. Reach out to find out more!